Minnesota farmers were included in USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Agricultural Chemical Use Program last fall.

The national survey is considered USDA’s official source of statistics about on-farm and postharvest fertilizer and pesticide use and pest management practices.

NASS collected data about chemical use and pest management practices used on corn and potato production. The data, collected as part of the Agricultural Resource Management Survey, are based on 5,065 surveys sent to producers in the 19 program states for corn and eight program states for potatoes in 2016.

Here are the results for Minnesota, according to the Upper Midwest Region Minnesota Field Office.

Corn
Fertilizers: Of the three primary macronutrients, nitrogen was the most widely used on corn. Minnesota farmers applied nitrogen to 96% of planted acres at an average rate of 139 pounds per acre per year.

Macronutrients phosphate and potash were applied to the majority of acres, at an average rate of 61 and 78 pounds per acre per year, respectively. The secondary macronutrient, sulfur, was applied to 43% of acres planted to corn.

Pesticides: Herbicide active ingredients were applied to 97% of the corn acres planted in Minnesota. The active ingredient acetochlor, which was applied to 56% of the planted acres, was the most widely used pesticide. It was also the active ingredient with the greatest total amount applied in Minnesota. Fungicide and insecticide active ingredients were applied to 3% and 7%, respectively.

Potatoes
Fertilizers: Of the three primary macronutrients, N was the most widely used on potatoes. Minnesota farmers applied nitrogen to 99% of planted acres at an average rate of 169 pounds per acre per year.

Macronutrients P and K were applied to the majority of acres, at an average rate of 76 and 156 pounds per acre per year, respectively. The secondary macronutrient, sulfur, was applied to 73%of acres planted to potatoes.

Pesticides: Fungicide active ingredients were applied to 98% of the potatoes acres planted in Minnesota.

Active ingredient chlorothalonil and mancozeb were the most widely used pesticide overall, with 96% of planted acres treated. Mancozeb was the active ingredient with the greatest total amount applied in Minnesota. Herbicide and insecticide active ingredients were applied to 90% and 94% of potatoes acres planted, respectively.

Pest management practices
Scouting for weeds was the top pest management practice on corn acreage. Rotating crops during the past three years was the top pest management practice on potato acreage.

Complete data from the Agricultural Chemical Use survey are available on the NASS website.

Source: NASS Upper Midwest Region Minnesota Field Office